Who doesn’t want luscious lips? Lip enhancement is a popular cosmetic surgery procedure for all ages, from twenty somethings to much older. Whether the aim is to renew luscious lips or to create them, patients have a broad selection of minimally-invasive, non-surgical choices. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Cooper outlines ways to improve the appearance of your lips with modern techniques and tools.
Lip Enhancement
Some people are lucky enough to be blessed with very full lips. If not, there are procedures to change the shape and appearance of the lips. Dr. Cooper says it’s important to understand what it is about the lips that a patient would like to improve. “When patients come in desiring an enhancement of their lips, I think it’s really important for me and the patient to get on the same page about what it is within their lips that they don’t like.” To begin with, taking photos helps to walk the patient through the process. “We take photos of all our patients before and after every treatment,” he details. “Specifically, with the lips I really go over it with the patient to make sure they understand the procedure.”
Improving on lip appearance can even be part functional, if there isn’t enough vermilion or pink part showing to apply lipstick or lip gloss. Expanding the lip can provide fullness and make makeup application easier. Cooper says there are varying treatment options. “I want to know if it’s the white roll between the cutaneous or pigmented portion of the upper lip that they don’t like, or the actual vermilion, which is the plump part of the lip that they don’t like. After going over that I will recommend a treatment based on what they don’t like and what I think is reasonable to improve.”
What about the Aging Lip?
Cooper stresses there are lip enhancement procedures and treatment options for all ages, including mature women who want to decrease the signs of aging. He indicates there can be challenges. “With the vertical lines of the upper lip, I find those to be most challenging. I think combination treatment for those patients, as well as lowering their expectations about what they can realistically achieve, is important. Cooper says it’s difficult to completely smooth out a very deep crease in the upper lip.
Pump Up The Volume
It’s far different when a patient wants to plump up their pout, according to Dr. Cooper. “On the flip side, when patients want just volume enhancement to their upper lip, I think we do a great job. We just need to know how big they want the lips to be, so we can again meet expectations.” Cooper uses a mirror during an enhancement procedure to make sure the patient can follow along. “I start centrally in the upper lip. I use a mirror with the patient to demonstrate to them – particularly to those who haven’t had injections before – just where I am putting the product. I always work toward the sides of the mouth.”
Cooper explains that it’s important to keep a good ratio when considering the size of the upper and lower lip. “I finish the lip treatment by injecting into the lower lip, so that the ratio of the lower lip is greater than the upper lip by about 3-2.”
No matter the situation, there are tremendous answers to achieving luscious lips.